Cartridge for toy guns



Nov. 12, 1929. w. R. PAxsoN CARTRIDGE FOR TOY GUNS Original Fiied Oct. 4. 1926 l N VE/V 7'0? T Viz/fer E. Eaxsfozz.

WITNESS Patented Nov. 12, 1929 mates WALTER R. PAXSON, OI GLENSIDE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO A, H. FOX GUN COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CARTRIDGE FOR TOY GUNS Application filed October 4, 1926, Serial No. 139,255. Renewed April 9, 1929.

My invention relates to cartridges for toy guns and more particularly to cartridges of a type in which no explosive is employed to project the projectile or ball but the projectile is projected by the impact of a spring i1npelled plunger contained within the cartridge shell or casing. The cartridge forming the subject-matter of the present application and a gun in which it is adapted to be used are disclosed in a copending application of mine, filed September 26, 1925, Serial Number 58,880.

One of the objects of my invention is to make a cartridge which somewhat closely resembles in outward appearance a cartridge used in a real firearm, said cartridge being adapted to be inserted into the breech of a toy shot gun and withdrawn therefrom in the same manner as cartridges are manipulated in loadin and unloadin a real shot gun.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cartridge for a toy gun in which the impelling force for the projectile within the cartridge is the impact of a plunger contained with the cartridge shell, with the rear or inner side of the projectile, said plunger bc- 1 ing impelledby the force of a spring under tension.

A; further object of my invention is to prevent the formation within the cartridge shell or casing of air pressure between the plunger and the projectile so that the projectile or bullet is projected by impact and not by the force of air compressed behind theprojectile.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cartridge comprising relatively few parts of simple construction, which is certain in action, durable and not liable to become inoperative, said parts and complete shell being of such construction as to be readily manufactured at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification and claims below.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference characters are employed throughout the various views to designate the same parts,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved toy cartridge;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cartridge shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal axial sectional view of a somewhat modified construction; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the plunger and washer on line 55 of Fig. 4;, with the outer shell omitted.

The cartridge forming the subjecomatter of this invention consists essentially of a me tallic tube, cylinder or casing 1, which is of substantially uniform diameter inside and outside except that at the discharge end thereof the shell may be provided with a tip 2, provided by forming, in any suitable manner, an annular groove 3 in and through the walls of the cylinder to provide a shoulder 4 on the inner side thereof and to limit the outward movement of the plunger, referred to below, the diameter of said tip being of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the ball or projectile 5 but slightly tapering outwardly so that the ball 5 pressed therein may be quite firmly retained therein by friction and possibly by the resiliency of the walls of the shell. The rear end of the tube or casing is provided with an integral head 6, providing an annular flange 7. The center of the head 6 is offset somewhat 'inwardlyand is provided with a relatively slide within the bore of the cylinder or casing 1. This piston 10 is preferably hollow, its

rear end being preferably open and its forward end preferably substantially closed by the transverse wall 11 which is provided with a plurality of openings 12 therethrough.

Also within the casing or shell 1 is a coiled spring 18 forming the propulsion spring of the shell. The forward end of this spring 13 is preferably seated within the piston or plunger against the rear side of the front wallll thereof,and its rear end is preferably positioned and held in place by the inwardly extending projection 1& formed by the offset onthe central portion ofthe head 6. This.

7 spring 13 is under tension at all times, said tension being such as to normally hold it firmly against the shoulder 4 formed by the annular groove 3 in the wall of'the cylinder or casing 1.

Also rigidly secured to the center of the forward wall 11 of the piston or plunger 10 is a catch or latch 15 comprising arearwardly extending somewhat resilient arm 16, with atapered head 17 at the free end thereof forming a notch or detent 18. From said notch or detent 18 to the end of the tapered head 17, the edge of said head is provided with a curved or rounded or tapered surface 19- and the extreme tip 17' of said head17 is preferably considerably above the center-of the cylinder or casing 1 so as to be at all times in a position to pass through the hole or opening 8 in the head and so that the curved surface 19 will bein the path of the firing pins of the gunlock mechanism when the plunger is'held in its retarded position by said latch. The forward end of said catch or latch 15 is preferably riveted to the plunger or piston 10 to form a projecting rounded head 20, slightly in advance of the forward face of the wall 11 of the piston or plunger 10. When the piston or plunger 1O is at the forward limit of its motion against the annular shoulder 11, the forward end of the head or projection 20 will be within the space occu--' piedby the ball'or projectile. 5 when it is seated within the tip 2 and therein frictionally retained, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

I the plunger 15 with the latch extending rear- It is tobe understood that the annular groove 3 is not placed or formed in the cylinder. or casing 1 until after the sprlng 13 and wardly therefrom have been placed within the cylinder 1, whereupon the piston 10 is permanently retainedwithin the cylinder by spinning, or pressing inwardly the groove 3 to formthe shoulders.

, l Vith the partsthusasse nble'd, in order to .lo ad the shellitis onl'y'necessary for one A to force a stick orramrodint'o'th'e shell, pressing against the forwardend of the piston or plunger 10, and forcing it rearwardly until the tapered head 17 on the re'ar'end of the resilie-nt' arm 16'shall enter and pass't-hrou'gh the opening 8 in the piston 'h'ead. "As this tapered end '17 "enters the opening 8 in the head, the curved surface 19 between the point" 17 "and the detent or toot-h 18 engages the wall ofthe hole 8 and, as the rear-ward motion o'f theplunger continues, this surface 19 rifles over said edge springing the resilient arm 15 slightly to permit the notch or detent 18 to ride over the edge of the opening 8 and spring back to bring the square shoulder 21 of the notch against the seat or shoulder 9 surrounding the opening 8. When the piston has been thus forced back to the position last described, pressure on the ramrod used in forcing the plunger orpiston 10 may be rather high speed without incurring danger 3 of seriously in uring onewho might be hit by the projectile in its flight.

When the shell has thus been loaded it is adapted to be inserted into the breech of a gun, such as isshown in my copending' application and when so mounted the tapering surface 19 of the head 17 of the resilient arm 16 will be in a line with the firing pin of the gun so that when the firing pin is forced forwardlylby pulling the trigger, it will engage,

said curved surface 19 and force it toward the axis of theshell or casing 1 sufficiently to move the notch or detent 18 'out'of engagement with the seat orshoulder 9 surrounding the opening 8, whereupon the tension of the propulsion spring 13 will impel the plunger or'piston 1O forwardly at a high rate-of speed until it shall come to rest on or be stopped by the annular shoulder l insideoftheshell or' casing 1, but before coming to that position...

the projection orhead 20 on the 'forward side of the wall 11 will engage and strike a sharp blow against the ball or projecti-le'aand impel it through the barrel of the gun.

. Thus it is that the ball ispr'oje'ctedbythe,

force of the impact ofth'e'spring impelled plunger'against the projectile. Because of the holes or openings 12 through the forward wall 11 of the hollow plunger or piston'lO the pressure onboth sides of the piston will be sub-. 1 'stantially equalized, that is to say,-no ,sub- 1 stantial pressure will be built up within the shell between the forward end of the piston or plunger- 10 and the. projectilebefore it is struclrfby. the plungeror piston 10 so that the ball is projected by the force of the'impact and not by the force of air compressed between the plunger or piston and ball orproj'e'ctile;

llhe central portion of the cartridge head 6 is offset inwardly so that when the shell is loaded thetapered head 17 of the arm 16' will not substantially project r'earwardl'ybeyond the plane of the rear surface of ,the

, flange 7 of the head 6 and so that-the said head 17 will not engage the forward end of the frame of the gun when the breech is closed and will clear the firing pins when they are in their most rearward position out of contact or engagement with the tapered heads 17 projecting rearwardly through the cartridge head 6. When, however, the firing pins are moved forwardly by pressure on the triggers of the gun, the forward ends of the firing pins will engage the curved surface 19 of the head plunger or piston 10.

17 and slide the tooth or notch 17 off its seat or shoulder 16 on thehead to release the In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the arm 16 of the latch 15 is not resilient as in the construction above described but is pivotally mounted within the plunger 10 on a transverse pivot pin 22, the ends of which are mounted in diametrically oppositely alined holes 23 extending through the cylindrical wall of said plunger, said pin 22 also fitting within'bushings 24 on opposite sides of the latch 15. These bushings extend respectively, from a side of the latch to the wall of said plunger and maintain the said latch 15' in a position substantially central to the plunger and shell. The latch 15 is also preferably provided with a rearwardly extending arm 25, the free extremity of which is curved outwardly to extend substantially radially to the axis of the shell and to bear against the inner side of the wall 11' of the plunger 10 when the tooth or detent 18 is in engagement with the shoulder or seat 9 outside of the edge of the hole or opening 8. In

other words, when the free end of the arm 25 is in engagement with the wall 11 the detent will be in a position to hold the plunger in its retracted position after the notch or detent 18 has passed through the opening 8 and the surface 21 thereof is seated on the annular seat 9. As the tooth or detent 18 rides over the wall of the hole 8, the free end of the arm 25 will move outwardly and forwardly slightly away from the wall 11". Surrounding the free end of the arm 25 and slidingly fitting within the bore of the plunger 10 is a cup or washer 26, preferably having a diametrically extending slot 27 through which the arm 25 passes. The forward surface of the cup or washer bears against the rear side of the free end of the arm 25 and within the cup is seated one end of the coiled propulsion spring 13 which is at all times under compression, and, therefore, normally yieldingly holds the rim of the washer 26 against the rear edge of the free end of the arm 25 and the forward free edge of said arm against the head 11 of the plunger.

To prevent the cup or washer 26 from binding or cramping within the bore of the plunger 10, the washer is preferably provided with a segmental flange 28 projecting forwardly from the washer a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the free end of the arm 26.

So constructed, the compressive force of the spring does not tend to twist the washer within the bore around the point of the engagement of the edge of the slot 26 with the rear edge of the arm 25.

When assembled, the transverse pin 22 and bushings 24 will extend between the convolutions of the spring 13.

In order that the plunger 10 may project forwardly a distance sufficient to impinge against the ball or projectile 5 seated in the tip 2, I may provide the forward wall 11 of the plunger with a dome-like projection 20" which, like the rivet head 20 of the latch 16, will strike the projectile 5 a sharp blow when the plunger is projected against the shoulder 4 by the release of the latch 15 from its engagement with the seat 9 surrounding the hole 8 in the rear end of the shell. The head 17, the tip 17, the curved surface 19 and the squared surface 21 of the tooth or notch 18 are like and operate precisely as they do in the embodiment of my invention first above described. In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the propulsion spring 13, in addition to supplying the force to projectthe plunger forwardly, also constitutes the means for yieldingly holding the latch 15 in a position to take over the forward edge of the hole 18 when the plunger is forced to its rearmost position and to maintain the curved surface 19 to lie across the axis of the firing pins so that when the firing pins are forced forwardly they will surely contact with the curved cam surface 19 of the head 17 force the latch 15 toward the axis of the shell and release the latch from its engagement with the shoulder or seat 9.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shell for toy guns comprising a shell, a plunger therein, a spring for driving said plunger, means for holding said plunger re- 1 mote from the discharge end of said shell and said spring under tension, and a projectile removably mounted in the discharge end of the shell, spaced. from said plunger and in a posi tion to be projected by the impact of said plunger against said projectile.

2. A shell for toy guns comprising a shell, a plunger therein, a spring for operating said plunger, means for holding said plunger retracted in said shell with said spring under tension, and a projectile removably mounted in one end of the shell and spaced from said piston when retracted, said plunger being provided with openings to permit the passage of air therethrough.

3. A shell for toy shotguns comprising a cylindricalshell, having one end shaped to hold a projectile, the end of the shell remote from said projectileholding end being provided with a relatively small opening, a plunger in'saidshell andhavinga clear'passage'for air therethrough, a releasing finger carried by said plunger and having a tapered head for engagement with the edge of the opening to hold the plunger in its inward positio'nwith- 1 in the shell and remote'from said projectile, and a spring for driving said plunger for wardly to impinge against said "projectile when said finger is moved to release said lunger. e r

4:. A shell for toy shot guns comprising a cylindrical shell, having one end shaped to hold a projectile, the end of the shell remote from said projectile holding end being provided with a relatively small opening, a plunger in said shell, a releasing finger carried by said plunger and having a tapered head for engagement with the edge of the opening to hold the plunger in its inward p0- sition within the shell and spaced from said projectile, and a spring for driving said plunger forwardly to impinge against said projectile, said head on said releasing finger being tapered and having its terminalpointpositioned at one sideof the central axis of the shell.

5. A shell for toy shotguns comprising a cylindrical shell, having one end shaped to frictionallyhold a projectile, the end of the shell remote from said projectile holding end being provided with a relatively small opening, a plunge'r in said shell, a releasing finger carried by said plunger and havinga tapered head for engagement with the edge of the opening to hold the plunger in its inward position within the shell and spaced from said projectile, and a spring for driving said plunger forwardly to impinge against said projectile, said plunger being provided with openingsto permit the passage of air therethrough, and to prevent any substantial com- 7 pression of airbetween said plunger and said said plunger.

projectile during the forward movement of j 6. In a cartridge for a toy gun, the .combination of a substantially cylindrical shell having a tip of slightly reduced diameter providinga shoulder near the discharge end of said shell, a slightlyfloutwardly tapering bore between said shoulder and the discharge end of said shell for frictionally retainin a ro'ectile therein a lun er slid ingly fitting in said shell and havinga projection on the forwardwend thereofl'a compression 'spring in said shell operative to norm'ally'hold' said plunger against said shoulder and with said projection'extending into said tapering. bore, and a latch mounted in said shell formetaining said plunger in a retracted position away from said shoulder and spaced from said projectile, in opposition to the tension of said spring.

7. In a cartridge for toy guns,the combination with a substantially cylindrical shell h ing a shoulder near the: forward end thereof and the'head w-itha central openng herethr ugh a ther ar en ithe ee i, a plunger slidable'in-said shell and retained therein by said shoulder, a propulsion spring under tension, normally yieldingly holding said plunger against said shoulder, anda latch carried bysaid plungerand extending rearwardlywithin said shell and having a detent near the free, end thereof and; a

V transversely fiat, longitudinally curvedvv sur- 'face extending "from said detent t0 the free is; pressed 'rearwardly against the tension t,

of said propulsion spring said -curved surfacev slides over the edge of said opening to bring said detent intofengagelnent with e o er surfacerof saidhead adjacent said opening tohold sajid plunger in'retracte'd a posit-ion'against the ten'siQnkof said propulsion spring, said .curved vsurface also forming the firing-pimengaging surfaceto re lease said detent from the edge of said opening, '5 I e 8. In a cartridge 'for a toy, gun, the combination of a-substantially cylindrical shell with a discharge tip of taperingbore flaring outwardly from within the shell to frictionally-retain-a spherical projectile therein and to provide an inwardly directed shoulder at the rear end-oi said tapering bore, a cartridge head substantially closing the rear end of said; shell, a plungerimounted in said shell, to reciprocate longitudinally thereof and having aprojection' at the front end and en ythereota empres ion pri g normally' yieldingly holding said plunger vagainst said shoulder with: said projections er within said. shell, said springbeing opera i e to impel sa d p unger vforwardly to cause .i said projection to impinge, against saidiproi ile be orejsaid plu ge e g g s said shoulder. y r

In'a cartridge for toy gnns,the combination of a shoulder near'the 'ifiorward end -thereof,,-;a plunger reciproeablein said Shell,

a cartridge headzsubstantially closing the i rear end :0:i;. a d-she11,-. a compression spring is normally holding said" plunger against, said shoulder and: a. latch mounted n said shell for retaining said 'plungerwihen "forced inwardly against the tensionof said springyin retracted position relatively remote from 1 1 said shoulder, said shoulder being so positioned with respect to a projectile frictionally retained therein that said plunger when released from its said retracted position im- 5 pinges upon said projectile imemdiately before it engages said shoulder.

10. In a cartridge for toy guns, the combination of a shoulder near the forward end thereof, a plunger reciprocable in said shell and having a free passage for air therethrough, a cartridge head substantially closing the rear end of said shell, a compression spring normally holding said plunger against said shoulder and a releasable latch for retaining said plunger when forced inwardly against the tension of said spring, in a retracted position relatively remote from said shoulder, said shoulder being so positioned with respect to a projectile frictionally retained therein that said plunger when released from its said retracted posi tion impinges upon said projectile before it engages said shoulder.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, 1926.

WALTER R. PAXSON. 

